Understanding Research, Science and Technology Parks Global Best Practices: Report of a Symposium (2009) / Chapter Skim
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Panel V: The Evaluation Challenge and Policy Synergies
Panel V: The Evaluation Challenge and Policy Synergies
Pages 113-122
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From page 113... ...
Since then, he said, he has spent almost 30 years studying how federal legislation could promote innovation. He had worked on the Bayh-Dole acts, the Technology Transfer Act, various antitrust laws, and each reauthorization of the Small Business Innovation Research program, and other issues that set the framework for topics being discussed at the symposium.
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From page 114... ...
If we could have everyone on that same wavelength we would have a tremendously different way of doing business." The Role of SBIR and State Awards Robert McMahan State of North Carolina Dr. McMahan said that he works as senior science advisor to the governor of North Carolina and executive director of the Board of Science and Technology, which he called "the nation's first state-level office of science and technology policy." He said that while he has no direct role at the Research Triangle Park, he lives adjacent to it and "represents a constituency for the research park -- those who are responsible for its funding and its promotion at the state level." He said he would "take a somewhat contrarian view" in the discussion.
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From page 115... ...
In 1958, Davis raised $2 million from private donations from across the state in 60 days -- today's equivalent of $15 million -- which made it possible to create a large and diverse innovation center for North Carolina. The Importance of "Patient Structures" What is distinctive about North Carolina's approach is that it recognized the importance of "patient structures," said Dr.
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From page 116... ...
For this reason, three years ago North Carolina instituted one of the country's most substantial SBIR support programs as part of its support of entrepreneurship. 20 The National Academies has recently concluded the first comprehensive assessment of the program since its founding in 1982.
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From page 117... ...
N Link, A Generosity of Spirit: The Early History of the Research Triangle Park, Research Triangle Park, NC: University of North Carolina Press for the Research Triangle Park Foundation, 1995; and A
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From page 118... ...
The trend toward evaluation is also going to trickle down to the science parks, he said, 22 The Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 required federal agencies to develop long-term Strategic Plans defining general goals and objectives for their programs, to develop Annual Performance Plans specifying measurable performance goals for all of the program activities in their budgets, and to publish an Annual Performance Report showing actual results compared to each a nnual performance goal.
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From page 119... ...
"This," he said, "is a challenge for the university and the reward structure of the university." How Universities Benefit from Parks While parks gain knowledge and prestige from their university partners, the universities gain as well. Association with the park brings the university higher publication rates, more successful patenting activities, greater ability to hire eminent scientists, and larger extramural grants.
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From page 120... ...
, a consortium of U.S. and now international semiconductor firms formed primarily to work out intellectual property agreements with many universities.
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From page 121... ...
The Limits of Quantitative Measures With respect to the yearning for quantitative measurements, he quoted a former professor who said, "If you can't count it, it doesn't count." With due respect to the professor, he said, it is apparent that qualitative measures also have an important role in park evaluation because qualitative measures add dimensionality and nuance to the more generalized quantitative measurements. The result is a more complete understanding of the characteristics of successful parks enhancing our ability to make fruitful science and technology park investments.
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From page 122... ...
"I understand that some people in the Research Triangle are now focusing on value-added activities that grow from the world-class area we all recognize as a model of success." The new metrics under consideration seek to retain more value-added activity in the Research Triangle area rather than exporting innovations to be implemented elsewhere. In summary, he suggested that a good outcome measure is one that demonstrates the value proposition for stakeholders, and that we are far from having such a measure.
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